Analysis of Enterobacteriaceae Producing Broad-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases in the Intensive Care Unit Setting

Strains of the Enterobacteriaceae family producing ESBL and AmpC broad-spectrum beta-lactamases that may survive in the hospital setting potentially cause infection in hospitalized patients due to contaminated objects or health care workers’ hands. Over a period of two months (November-December 2010), a single epidemiological study of microbial contamination of air, surfaces and health care workers (swabs from both nostrils and the right hand without a glove) was carried out at two intensive care units of the University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic. The bacteria were identified using standard microbiological methods. Phenotypic detection of ESBL and AmpC enzymes and basic genetic analysis of ESBLand AmpC-positive isolates was performed. The same approach was used to identify and analyze bacteria isolated from clinical samples of patients hospitalized at the above departments over the study period. From a total of 140 environmental samples collected over the study period, 21 isolates of the Enterobacteriaceae family were identified, with ESBL and AmpC production being detected in 4 and 7 isolates, respectively. Among patients’ clinical samples, 10 ESBLand 6 AmpC-positive isolates were detected. No similarity was found between environmental isolates and strains isolated from patients.